Information About the Area from our Experts

Public Transportation

Atlanta offers public transit through heavy rail service, 91 bus routes, 1600 taxis, Amtrak service, and the eighth busiest subway system in the U.S. However, only 13.7% of residents take public transportation to work every day. A majority of them (76%) drive a vehicle to work instead. As a result, Atlanta is one of the worst cities for traffic, and has long commute times (for those who drive, at least).

Apartment Costs

There are thousands of available apartments in Atlanta, as the city is very renter friendly -- there were over 20,000 more property renters than owners in 2010. The median rent here is $1,056, which is pretty average for a city its size. More specifically, a one bedroom on average goes for $909, a two bedroom typically costs $1102, and the average three bedroom is $1338.

Schools & Education

Public schools in the city are run by Atlanta Public Schools, which services 55,000 students and over 150 public schools. There are also hundreds of private schools in and around Atlanta, so the education options for children are plentiful. There are also around 30 colleges in the metropolitan area, the most notable being Emory University, which U.S. News ranked as the 20th best in the country.

Recreation

Atlanta, nicknamed “the city in a forest” because of its tree coverage (highest in the nation), has a great recreational scene that is continually growing every year. Currently, there are nearly 350 parks, gardens, and nature preserves that cover 3,600 acres. The city is also home to one of the best botanical gardens in the country. It’s known for its Canopy Walk, which is an elevated walkway that stretches through 15 acres of forest. An undergoing project transforming a former rail corridor to a multi-use trail will increase Atlanta’s park area by 40%, making a city that’s great for recreation even better.